The type of change that is necessary to ensure the future is vastly different than the present will be a paradigm shift that dismantles a violent subculture of the USA. That subculture has always been a danger to national security and always had the potential to result in anarchy and opportunities for USA enemies to exploit. White Supremacists are among the first people that would be rounded up by communists as they are not tolerated in communist countries now. Realizing that and the fact this change is not victimless in it's potential, there needs to be a focus on the potential danger going forward.
The vast change that needs to occur also requires governors and state legislators to bring about a change in the display of Confederate icons, including the Confederate flag.
Let me make this very clear. While there may not have been an agenda of White Supremacy by Confederate leaders for declaring the war, it is implied in all the facts of the times of the USA Civil War.
One of the best examples of racism in the Confederate culture of the Civil War was Lincoln's assassination.
...On the evening of April 11, (click here) the president stood on the White House balcony and delivered a speech to a small group gathered on the lawn. Two days earlier, Robert E. Lee had surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House, and after four long years of struggle it had become clear that the Union cause would emerge from the war victorious. Lincoln’s speech that evening outlined some of his ideas about reconstructing the nation and bringing the defeated Confederate states back into the Union. Lincoln also indicated a wish to extend the franchise to some African-Americans—at the very least, those who had fought in the Union ranks during the war—and expressed a desire that the southern states would extend the vote to literate blacks, as well. Booth stood in the audience for the speech, and this notion seems to have amplified his rage at Lincoln....
Booth became determined to assassinate Lincoln, the first president ever to be assassinated AFTER President Lincoln stated African Americans should have the right to vote. It was Lincoln's determination to make African Americans full citizens that caused his death at the hand of Booth.
The fight for civil rights has never been easy, but, is always worth it. The fact that every citizen of the USA is considered empowered by THE VOTE brings a unique ability for "the people" to change the face of American democracy and bring about a more peaceful country and the envy of the world.
We are engaged in dangerous times with Donald John Trump in the presidency. He is unhelpful to maintaining peace within the USA. That is one of his duties, to maintain tranquility within the borders of the USA. That hasn't been the case since he was inaugurated. Trump has pitted race against race with the first detention of those crossing the southern border.
Oh, by the way, the children in detention that were supposed to have been returned to their country of origin, never were returned. A federal judge recently ordered the children to be released from detention. (click here) The primary concern by the judge was the spread of COVID-19 among those detained. That somehow escaped the concerns of the USA president.
The point is there is a lot of danger in the physical presence of marches for civil rights. That has been the history as well. But, we are living in unprecedented times of a dangerous pandemic and increasing numbers of victims to the virus in the USA. It is prudent for leadership to call upon the people to slow the occurrences of the protests and increase the focus on first defeating the virus before the protests continue with vigor. The increasing number and younger age of the victims to the virus would dictate that initiative.
Softening the approach of protests does not mean there isn't a hardening of the resolve, but, only a change in the methods. There need to be organizations to lobby, raise money, and oversee this enormous paradigm change. These changes must go forward. There is on doubt White Supremacy was never far from the priorities of the Confederacy. It all has to end and the icons of the era removed from the ideology they now support.
Does anyone have any idea the extent of the name of Robert E. Lee? There is even a restaurant in New Jersey of all places that bears his name. There are innumerable statutes and name tributes to him and that is only one Confederate leader. The task at removing these icons from our civilized culture is enormous and will require more than protests to bring an end to them.
Additionally, there are people full of hate such as Steven Nelson that believe so deeply in the identity of a Confederate White Supremacy they are willing to kill for it. Knowing that brings a great responsibility of civil rights leaders to be sure such hate is not allowed to spark greater danger. The methods going forward, while peaceful, also have to be safe. The many that want this change need to remain firm in their resolve and move forward with methods that are more conducive to ending the virus as well as protecting the innocent.
Thank you for your consideration.
By Natalia Martinez
Steven Nelson Lopez has been in police custody since the shooting occurred Saturday, charged with one count of murder and one count of wanton endangerment first degree.
Louisville, Ky. - The man accused of fatally shooting (click here) a local photographer at Jefferson Square Saturday night had been arrested twice before for rioting related charges.
WAVE 3 News has learned the suspect’s name is Steven Nelson Lopez. He’s been in police custody since the shooting occurred Saturday around 9 p.m. He’s been charged with one count of murder and one count of wanton endangerment first degree.
Lopez, who had been camping at Jefferson Square had been asked to leave earlier in the day by other protesters for his "disruptive behavior" Mayor Greg Fischer said during a press conference Sunday afternoon.
According to an arrest report, LMPD officers notified MetroSafe of multiple gunshots fired in Jefferson Square Park around 8:59 p.m. Officers responded on scene at this time to find a victim suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.
The victim was found unresponsive lying in the middle of the park near a concrete wall.
Lopez, according to the report, was seen shooting a firearm into a large crowd of people at the park. The gunfire struck the victim, later revealed by the coroner as Tyler Gerth.
Gerth was shot in the head and pronounced dead on scene by officers.
